The Wisconsin
Innovation
Network (WIN)
eNewsletter
is a periodical of news, events and
programs that
focuses on the needs and challenges faced
by new
and growing technology-based businesses
in
Wisconsin. WIN has chapters in the
western Wisconsin,
the Lake Superior Region, Madison,
Milwaukee and
Northeast and Central Wisconsin.
|
More than 50 emerging companies apply to present at the Early Stage Symposium
|
|
Sprint ahead in the race for private equity! Nov. 5-6
MADISON - Fifty-seven early stage
companies applied for one of two chances to
present to potential investors at the
Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, to be
held Nov. 5-6 at Madison's Monona Terrace
Community and Convention Center.
The annual conference, which has existed
under different names for more than 20
years, will feature the fourth annual "Elevator
Pitch Olympics" for companies in a seed
financing stage and the second annual
Wisconsin Angel Network Early Stage
presentation track for companies seeking
angel investments beginning in the $500,000
range. About three-dozen companies will be
selected to present in one track or the other.
|
|
Virent Energy Systems: Recent company news tees up Apfelbach speech
|
|
Eric Apfelbach, CEO of Virent Energy
Systems, will speak at the Nov. 5th
SBIR awards dinner at the Tech Council's
annual Early Stage Symposium.
Click here to read a collection of
recent news on
exciting developments within the green
gasoline company.
|
|
Tech Council releases report on private equity investment in Wisconsin
|
|
The Tech Council has published 'The
Wisconsin Portfolio,' a 16-page magazine
describing the private equity investment
landscape in Wisconsin. The publication,
which tracks recent trends and includes
valuable information on angel investing,
venture capital investments and more, is
available at the Tech Council website.
Printed
copies are available for $6 each by
contacting Gina Leahy.
|
|
Tech Council Activity Update
|
|
*
The
I-Q Corridor brand continues to gain
traction. Organizations, institutions and
businesses
throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois
have adopted this Upper Midwest brand and
are using it to
promote our region. The Tech Council invites
you to visit our site and do the
same. *
The Tech Council's Tom Still will attend a National
Governors
Association "best practices" seminar in
Denver, Oct. 20-21, to discuss the
Wisconsin Angel Network. *
The
Tech Council is working with the
UW-Madison
Department of Life Sciences
Communication
on turning its expertise in public opinion into
a center
that could provide survey data and
perspectives to businesses
and institutions on emerging fields such as
biofuels, nanotechnology
and stem cell research. If established, the
proposed Center for
Public Opinion and Technology would be
nationally groundbreaking. *
On Oct. 13-14, the Tech Council Board
of Directors will visit the
Marshfield Clinic.
Contributors to July's Board of Directors
meeting were CenturyTel,
Flanagan Financial, Functional Bioscience,
and the 7 Rivers Region Alliance.
The Tech Council's
Board of Directors is comprised of 47
leaders from tech companies,
venture capital firms, all levels of education,
research institutions,
government and law. Interested in
hosting/sponsoring a meeting contact
Ryann Petit-Frere.
*
The Tech Council is providing input to
state policymakers as they consider
workforce development strategies.
Still is co-chairman of the state Department
of Public Instruction's "Next Generation
Assessment Task Force," and
will facilitate an upcoming discussion of the
PK-16 Collaboration Council's discussion on
higher education readiness.
*
The Wisconsin Security Research
Consortium's annual
Resource Rendezvous drew more than
75 public and private researchers from
academia and industry. Speakers included
Sen. Russ Decker, D-Weston; Donald
Tighe, In-Q-Tel; Mike Smith, Department of
Homeland Security; and David Busigo,
Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency. The event attracted attendees from
Wisconsin and Minnesota.
*
The 2008-09 Tech Council
white paper series focuses on human
capital, workforce development and
technology development issues. The policy
recommendations are submitted to
the Governor and the Legislature every even
year.
*
Wisconsin was represented at the Oct. 2
NCET2 conference in
Washington,
D.C., which focused on early-stage investing
in university-based start-ups. Wisconsin
Department of Financial Institutions
Secretary Lorrie Keating Heinemann,
investors Basil Mundy and Bob Wood, and
the Tech Council's Tom Still presented on
Wisconsin's angel
investing experience.
* She got hitched! Liz Katz is
now Liz Schrum. Congratulations!
|
|
Did you know?
|
|
Fast facts about Wisconsin's high-tech economy
News about Wisconsin in mid-2008 from
'The
Wisconsin Portfolio,' produced by the
Wisconsin Technology Council and its
partners:
- In July, the State of Wisconsin
Investment
Board issued its first-ever white paper on
Wisconsin's private equity landscape and
concluded the state "is closer than ever to
forming the critical mass necessary" to
grow its venture capital culture.
- In late
June, a report on private equity financing in
Wisconsin showed totally early stage
investments reached $146.9 million in 2007,
up 43 percent from 2006.
|
|
WIN eNewsletter Reader Poll
|
|
Reader Poll is the newest feature of the WIN
eNewsletter! Share your thoughts by voting
and view
the responses of others.
Reader Poll question of the month:
Wisconsin manufacturing owners, CEOs or
senior-level executives are invited to take
part in the Next Generation Manufacturing
Survey, which is being conducted by the
Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension
Partnership and its partners.
Please visit
www.WisconsinNGM.com.
The survey will identify and measure key
performance metrics and best-practice
strategies. It includes questions on
innovation, global engagement, sustainability,
supply chain management and collaboration,
process improvement and talent acquisition
and retention.
Last month we asked readers to participate
in the 2008 Entrepreneurs Conference
Survey.
Here are some comments from
respondents:
-From start to finish, all around well
done. Very informative and great networking.
-It was very informative, and an
excellent platform for entrepreneurs to
meet investors.
-Enjoyed conference, networking
opportunities. Would like to see more panels
on sales and marketing.
|
|
Events and Opportunities
|
|
|
Localization World
Madison, October 13-15,
Madison
SSTI 12th Annual
Conference, October 14-16,
Cleveland
World Food
Challenge: Role of Technology in Food
ProductionOctober 15,
Madison
Innovation
2008, October 20-21,
University of Minnesota
5th Annual sySTEM
Now! Conference, October 21,
Marquette University, Milwaukee
WI Biotech & Med
Device Assn. Annual
Conference, October 22,
Waukesha, WI
WBIA Fall WEDA
conference, October 27,
Wisconsin Dells
2008 Tekne
Awards, October 30,
Minneapolis Convention Center
Conference on
Sustainable Real Estate
DevelopmentOctober 30,
Madison, WI
Wisconsin Early Stage
Symposium,
November 5-6, Madison
Innovation Master
Class,
November 11, Madison
Pantheon Ceremony
2008,
November 13, San Francisco, CA
Global Entrepreneurship
Week,
November 17-23
E3 2008 Premier Energy,
Economic & Environmental
Conference,
November 18, St. Paul, MN
Pre-Clinical
101,
November 19, St. Louis Park, MN
Global Business Incubation
Day, December 8
SPONSOR YOUR NEXT REGIONAL WIN
MEETING! WIN has six chapters across
Wisconsin. Click
here or
contact WIN director,
Liz Schrum(formerly Katz), to
learn more!
|
|
Get WIN-volved! Membership has its privileges
|
|
Joining your local Wisconsin Innovation
Network (WIN) Chapter offers networking
connections with
a variety of industries and professionals in
high tech,
law, banking, government, public relations,
manufacturing, and local entrepreneurs.
Welcome to these new
WIN members:Lynn
Allen-Hoffman, Stratatech
Corporation
Jeff Clark, Track Cost
Phillip Crawford, 3x5 Software, LLC
Stephen Dinehart
David Dunaway, My Payment Network
Patrick James, Tesla Laboratories
Mike Spude, Comprehensive Computer
Consulting
Jeff Vercauteren, Cullen, Weston,
Pines & Bach LLP
Cheryl Vickroy, Bachner Vickroy Group
Gregory Vivirito, The Skye Club
Robert Young, Paradigm Sensors
Halleland Health Consulting
Click here to join your
local WIN Chapter or to learn more about us.
|
|
